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Insulation and how it works
I
Introduction
Electricity bills, oil bills, gas bills--all
homeowners pay for one or more of these
utilities, and wish they paid less. Often many
of us do not really know how to control or
reduce our utility bills. We resign ourselves to
high bills because we think that is the price we
have to pay for a comfortable home. We encourage
our children to turn off the lights and
appliances, but may not recognize the benefits
of insulating the attic.
Why Should You Insulate?
Heating and cooling ("space
conditioning") account for 50 to 70% of the
energy used in the average American home. About
20% goes for heating water. On the other hand,
lighting and appliances and everything else
account for only 10 to 30% of the energy used in
most residences. It makes good sense to turn
lights and appliances off when they are not
needed, and you'll save even more on your energy
costs if your reduce the amount of energy needed
for heating and cooling.
Unless your home was constructed with special
attention to energy efficiency, adding
insulation will probably reduce your utility
bills. Much of the existing housing stock in the
United States is not insulated to the best
level. Older homes are likely to use more energy
than newer homes, leading to very high heating
and air-conditioning bills. Even if you own a
new home, adding insulation may save enough
money in reduced utility bills to pay for itself
within a few years, continue to save you money
for as long as you own the home, and increase
the resale value of your house.
The Crucial Role of Thermal
Insulation
Inadequate insulation and air leakage are
leading causes of energy waste in most homes.
Insulation saves money and our nation's limited
energy resources. It can also make your house
more comfortable by helping to maintain a
uniform temperature throughout the house. Walls,
ceilings, and floors will be warmer in the
winter and cooler in the summer. Insulation can
also act as a sound absorber or barrier, keeping
noise levels down.
It is possible to add insulation to almost
any house. You may be able to do the job
yourself if the structural framing is
accessible--for instance, in unfinished attics
or under the floor over an unheated space. Or,
you may prefer to hire an insulation contractor.
In either case, it is important to choose and
install the insulation correctly.
The amount of energy you conserve will depend
on several factors: your local climate; the
size, shape, and construction of your house; the
living habits of your family; the type and
efficiency of the heating and cooling systems;
and the fuel you use. Once the energy savings
have paid for the installation cost, energy
conserved is money saved--and the annual savings
will increase if utility rates go up.
Insulation Priorities
It is most important to:
- Insulate your attic to the
recommended level, including the attic door,
or hatch cover.
- Provide the recommended level of
insulation under floors above unheated
spaces, around walls in a heated basement or
unventilated crawl space, and on the edges
of slabs-on-grade.
- Use the recommended levels of insulation
for exterior walls for new house
construction. When remodeling or re-siding
your house, consider using the levels
recommended for new construction in your
existing walls.
ALL THE ABOVE INFORMATION IS
TAKEN FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY WEB SITE
http://www.ornl.gov/sci/roofs+walls/insulation/ins_01.html
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